Budget 2013: Karnataka govt offers rice at Rs 2/kg in ’please-all’ budget

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, Feb 8, 2013: Liquor prices will go up and footwear will cost less in Karnataka as the BJP government today presented a "please-all" budget for 2013-14, ahead of the Assembly elections due in May.

Jagadish ShettarIn a populist move, the government announced that rice supplied through the Public Distribution System to families below poverty line will be provided at Rs two per kg from 2013-14.

"Rs 1,200 crore is reserved for food subsidy during 2013-14," said Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who tabled a Rs 1,17,005 crore budget in the Assembly, an increase of 13.88 per cent over the figure of Rs 1,02,742 crore in the previous year. He sought approval for vote on account for the period up to July 31 this year.

 

"Revenue surplus is estimated to be Rs 585 crore. Fiscal deficit is expected to be Rs 16,714 crore, which is 2.78 per cent of GSDP," he said.

Shettar said total liabilities at Rs 1,34,472 crore at the end of 2013-14 are estimated to be 22.35 per cent of GSDP, which is within the ceiling of 25.2 per cent limit of the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act for the year 2013-14.

The government proposed to revise the 17 slabs of declared prices relating to Indian made liquor by increasing each of them by Rs 40, and double the licence fee collected for transfer of retail liquor licence and bar and restaurant licences from one person to another.

Footwear costing up to Rs 200 per pair would be exempted from tax. Tax exemption on paddy, rice, wheat, pulses and products of rice and wheat would be continued for one more year from April this year.

In an apparent move to derive political dividends, the government proposed to create 43 new taluks, based on the reports submitted to the Government in recent years, demand from the public and due to geographical factors.

The government would undertake minority welfare programmes with a budget of Rs 415 crore, including scholarship to students belonging to Jain community, and grants for development of Muslim pilgrimage places.

The Chief Minister announced "one cyber cafe per village" scheme, which would be implemented in every village in the state in a phased manner.

"At the first stage, Rs 50 crore is earmarked for establishment of cyber cafes in all 5,627 panchayat headquarters of the state," Shettar said.

He said Rs 6,203 crore would be provided in 2012-13 for development of Bangalore from government and related organisations.

 

Major beneficiaries

RS 100 Crore allotted for religious organisations. Shettar continues what BSY started.

What’s up and what’s down

Liquor goes up

Cheap footwear gets cheaper


Bangalore

Rs 2,400 crores to develop Kempe Gowda layout; 15,000 sites to be allocated

Okalipuram- Khoday circle to get a grade separator

Hebbal, Doddanekundi and Ibbalur to get flyovers

Rs 300 crore for road works; Rs 2,500 crore for peripheral ring road

New flyovers at Chalukya, Shivananda and Siddalingiah circles

200 crores to BBMP for infrastructure; Dialysis centres in all constituencies

Rs 500 crores to build grade separators to manage traffic

Sector-wise allocation

Allocation to agriculture goes up to 22, 310 crore

Education - 18,666 crores; Revenue - 3,440 crores; Commerce and Industry - 936 crores; Horticulture – Rs 1,310 crores.

Schemes

Escoms get Rs 5,250 crores to provide free electricity to farmers with up to 10 hp motors

State Spice Board to be set up – Rs 10 crores allocated for that.

Schools to develop vegetable gardens to address malnutrition among students

Women to get concessional loan at 4%

Rs 3,630 crores allotted to waive off principal and interest on agricultural loans.

Children libraries in all dsitricts

Institute of Technology in Dharwad

Spiritual Sansad Bhavan to come up at Kengeri

Scheme to legalise illegal pumpsets to continue

Green Boards to be set up to promote solar power

Courtesy: DHNS